The Penn State sec scandal has rocked the entire college sports world, enveloping the national and local media with all of the allegations, and it is going to be hard to focus on the field instead of the off field issues. Also, allow us to say a prayer for the victims and their families. But, the week is still going to happen. The blog is coming out a day early due to not one, but two games happening tomorrow night. One pro, one college, should be fun.
College
#7 Oregon at #4 Stanford, 8, ABC
This is a big Pac-12 North division showdown to decide which of these two teams will most likely determine who faces off in the inaugural Pac-12 championship game. This game is probably the most important in Andrew Luck's distinguished Stanford career. Luck and Stanford suffered their only loss last year to Oregon at Oregon, and that was by three touchdowns. Oregon has LaMichael James back, and they've got a very potent offense themselves.
There are two very different philosophies in this game as well, with Stanford running a very much pro style offense, running the ball and having a lot of size and liking to push folks around. Oregon meanwhile has very much a speed attack, where they like to spread you out and wear you down over time with this speed attack.
Both teams have played relatively cupcake schedules, with Stanford's only real good win came at USC a few weeks ago. But, Oregon has played LSU and Arizona State, who was ranked at the time. This game should be a shootout, as both teams have incredibly potent offenses and not that good of a defense. Call it a toss up.
Pick: Stanford 50, Oregon 48
#10 Virginia Tech at #21 Georgia Tech, 8, ESPN Thursday
Georgia Tech has had kind of a roller coaster season, as they started off on a big winning streak, winning their first seven games, with their biggest victory coming over North Carolina. Then, they lost their next two to Virginia and Miami. Then, back on October 29, they beat an unbeaten in fifth ranked Clemson quite handily, 31-17. Now, they've had ten days to really perfect this triple option which drives defensive coordinators nuts, as they never know who is going to run the ball.
Virginia Tech meanwhile, is again quietly having a very nice season, with their only loss coming to aforementioned Clemson. Tech is only a half game ahead of Georgia Tech currently in the ACC Coastal, so this is a very big game to see which team may be represented in the ACC Championship game. Tech is doing their usual thing of playing stout defense and excellent special teams while having a great running game.
This game is close again, but I think Georgia Tech will come out on top, due to this game coming after a bye and them playing at home on a Thursday.
Pick: Georgia Tech 35, Virginia Tech 24
#19 Nebraska at #12 Penn State, noon, ESPN
As much as I hate to do this game due to the allegations and all of the hoopla surrounding the campus, it is a big game within the Big Ten. Nebraska is coming off their first loss at home to a current Big Ten member in 30 years. So, they will be fired up to come and try and improve their standing within the Legends division. They've got a pretty good defense when they show up. But, they've allowed some big points to other teams which is concerning. But, they've got a really good running quarterback in Taylor Martinez and a good running back in Rex Burkhead as well. Both Martinez and Burkhead combine for over 1600 yards in on the ground. Meanwhile, Martinez has over 1500 yards passing as well.
Now, with Penn State. Penn State will be one very emotional place come Saturday at noon. There will be a blue out to help with the fight against child abuse. This will be the first time since Lyndon Johnson was in the White House that Joe Paterno will not be the head coach of the football team. The players will need to find something to play for and to maintain their two game lead in the Leaders division. I don't know how the team will perform, but I expect one heluva effort at least on senior day.
Pick: Penn State 24, Nebraska 23
TCU at #5 Boise State, 3:30, Versus
This game was supposed to be huge at the beginning of the year, not only for the conference, but possibly national championship implications. It was supposed to be the beginning of a rivalry in the Mountain West conference. However, it's looking more and more likely that both of these teams will no longer be a part of this conference. TCU first was going to leave for the Big East, now they're going to the Big 12. Now, Boise may move to the Big East, which doesn't make any sense whatsoever. This was originally scheduled to be in Fort Worth, but since TCU was switching conferences, the game has now been moved to Boise.
TCU has not been the same offensive or defensive juggernaut it was when Andy Dalton was there. In the first game of the season, they narrowly lost to a good Baylor team in Waco, and then their only other loss came at home to SMU in overtime. But, they've put together a nice season thus far to go 7-2. But, I don't think they have the experience to go up against Heisman contender Kellen Moore and Boise. Continue to hop onto the Boise bus as Pat Forde would say.
Pick: Boise 41, TCU 32
#20 Auburn at #15 Georgia, 3:30, CBS
Georgia needs this game to keep a leg up on South Carolina, as they're only up by a half game on them. Georgia has slowly but surely been climbing themselves out of an 0-2 hole, and now they're undefeated in the SEC East, and easily the class of that division currently.
Auburn is a good team, but not a particularly great one, as they've beaten the teams they've supposed to, but lost to the ones who are a class above them. They've got a good running back and defense, but no other true skill people.
Pick: Georgia 24, Auburn 13
NFL
Oakland at San Diego, 8:20, NFLN, Thursday
Both of these teams have really been scuffling, but since the AFC West is so bad, they're tied for first place at 4-4. San Diego has lost three straight, while Oakland has lost two straight. San Diego has blown leads and then lost to unquestionably the best team in football in the Packers, but they made the game close. Oakland just hasn't found its rhythm under new quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer hasn't been quite the impact player that Oakland had hoped when they traded two high draft choices for him.
San Diego should have the upper hand, as they're getting their main running back in Ryan Mathews back and only use Mike Tolbert in third down and goal line situations. Their defense can attack Palmer, and since the Raiders don't really have that good of a running game now that Darren McFadden is out, they can force the Raiders to just get into passing mode and pick Palmer off easy.
Pick: San Diego 27, Oakland 20
New Orleans at Atlanta, 1, Fox
Atlanta is coming off an incredibly easy victory over the hapless Colts, where they performed well in ever facet of the game, and what team doesn't when facing the Colts? Julio Jones finally emerged last week as well as the elite receiver they were hoping in Julio Jones, with two touchdown catches and 130 yards. Atlanta will need to control the ball with Michael Turner and their secondary needs to step up against the potent passing game of Drew Brees and the Saints. This game is also important in the NFC South, as Atlanta is only a half game back of the Saints, and could determine who gets a home playoff game and who gets the wild card.
Pick: New Orleans 30, Atlanta 28
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 1, CBS
Cincinnati is a very surprising team coming out of the AFC North, as nobody expected them to do anything this season, as they lost Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer, while gaining their rookie replacements A.J. Green and Andy Dalton. Well, Cincinnati is now looking genius for that move, as they are 6-2 and both Dalton and Green are looking like pro bowl contenders.
Pittsburgh is coming off a very tough loss to Baltimore late in the fourth quarter, where their defense couldn't hold the lead. But, it seems like whenever Pittsburgh comes off a tough loss they always come back the next week and pummel their opponent. I expect no different here.
Pick: Pittsburgh 26, Cincy 13
New York Giants at San Francisco, 4:15, Fox
This is the biggest stage yet for the 49ers, as they are the featured game in Fox's late window and they're playing a team which just defeated the mighty Patriots. San Francisco continues to fly cross country and beat their opponents, as they did last week at Washington. San Francisco has been winning games using defense, a solid kicking game, a very good running game and a short passing game. Plus, Jim Harbaugh has been more than advertised as the new head coach.
New York meanwhile has much improved quarterback play from Eli Manning and they've gotten production out of their tight end, Jake Ballard, and Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz have really stepped up their games as wide receivers. This should be a very good hard fought, fairly low scoring game.
Pick: San Francisco 17, New York 13
New York Jets at New England, 8:20, NBC
New England can't lose three games in a row, can they? That hasn't happened since 2002. Granted, the defense isn't all that stout, they don't got all that good of a running game, but still, this is the Patriots, a team which hasn't lost three in a row since nine years ago. New York has been playing well lately, but there is no way I can foresee the Patriots losing three in a row, especially with Tom Brady at quarterback.
Pick: New England 28, New York 21
No comments:
Post a Comment